1. On May 5, 1862, Union forces led by General William "Bull" Nelson defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Williamsburg in Kentucky. This battle marked a significant Union victory early in the Civil War and paved the way for the eventual capture of Nashville.

2. On May 5, 1890, the Kentucky Derby was held for the sixteenth time. The winning horse was Riley, ridden by Isaac Murphy. Murphy, who was African American, was one of the most successful jockeys of his time, with three Kentucky Derby wins to his name.

3. On May 5, 1936, the city of Louisville was struck by a devastating tornado that killed 33 people and caused millions of dollars in damage. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that affected several states in the Midwest and South.

4. On May 5, 1988, the Kentucky Oaks was held at Churchill Downs. The race was won by Goodbye Halo, ridden by Pat Day. The Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious horse racing event held annually on the day before the Kentucky Derby.

5. On May 5, 2012, the Louisville Cardinals won the Big East Conference Championship in baseball. The Cardinals went on to make it to the College World Series that year, eventually finishing as the runners-up to the Arizona Wildcats.